The Denison Lab studies the coronaviruses, a family of plus-strand RNA viruses that cause important infections in many animals and colds in humans. A new coronavirus recently has been identified as the cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The Denison laboratory studies the model coronavirus, mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) to understand the replication, cell biology, and protein functions of coronaviruses. The laboratory uses biochemical and genetic approaches, including the recent introduction of reverse genetic approaches, to define the specific functions of replicase proteins in the formation and function of viral replication complexes. In addition, the laboratory has a program to define the replication of the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and develop virus mutants as live virus vaccine candidates. The Denison laboratory has an active training program for students and postdoctoral fellows to develop new investigators in viral cell biology, molecular biology, and genetics. .

Posted: 11/20/2013
Our lab studies the replication, pathogenesis, cell biology and evolution of Coronaviruses, a family of RNA viruses from which human SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV emerged to cause worldwide epidemics. CoVs encode many novel functions in the largest known RNA genomes, including novel nsp5 protease and an unprecedented proofreading exoribonuclease (ExoN) in nsp14. Thus CoVs are a model for understanding mechanisms of virus evolution, replication and host species movement.

Postdoctoral positions are available to understand basic mechanisms of CoV replication, cell biology, pathogenesis and evolution, and to identify novel targets for attenuation and inhibition of CoV replication and disease. Projects in the lab use the BSL2 model virus murine hepatitis virus (MHV) as well as the SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Current available projects in the lab include 1) CoV nsp5 protease structure / function during coronavirus replication; 2) Role of the CoV nsp15 endoribonuclease in CoV replication fidelity and RNA synthesis; 3) Superresolution imaging of coronavirus replication complex formation 4) Determinants of CoV replication fidelity; and 5) Inhibitors of CoV fidelity and capping